Coin-controlled press



May 26, 1925.

- A. COLUMBRO 00111 00111110111111) PRESS Filed Dec. 26, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet -1 jwuca 1 101; A Memo CQLUMBRQ,

May 26, 1925. 1,539,161

A. COLUMBRO COIN CONTROLLED PRESS 11 Dec 26 t w. nmcuhwi (G N AN sue COLUMBRO,

Patented May 26, 1925.

PATENT OFFIE.

ANGELO C'OLUMBRO, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

COIN-CONTROLLED PRESS.

' Application filed December 26, 1923. Serial No. 682,692. I

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ANGELO COLUMBRO, a citizen of United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a. Coin-Controlled Press, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

The resent invention relates to a coin or checz controlled press, and the primary object of the invention is theprovislon of a machine for pressing the juice out of apples, oranges, grapes, and other fruit, or for other pressing purposes, which controlled in its operation by the reception of a coin or check, in order that the introduction of such coin or check will provide for'a predetermined operation of themachine.

Another object of the. invention is the provision of a dispensing device containing the apples, oranges, or other fruit to becrushed and the juice expressed therefrom, in order that the fresh juice can be used as a beverage, without being bottled, stored or preserved, the machine having means for feed ing' the apples or other fruit or articles,

under suita- 1e control, to the press, so that for each. operation the articles is dispensed.

A further object is the'p'rovisio-n of a coin or check controlled dispensing device having such an organization of component elements that when a coin or check is insertjuice of one or more ed, one or more apples or other articles are supplied to the press'and the juice expressed therefrom and delivered.

A further object is the provision of a dispensing device having provision for automa ically supp-lying a cup into which the juice is delivered, for the convenient drinking thereof.

The invention also has for object the improvement of the machine generally in its construction and details to enhance the utility and efliciency thereof.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which w'll be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes can be made with in the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the machine.

Fig. 2 is afront view of the working parts, showing the casingand other portions in section.

Fi 3 is' a horizontal section taken approximately on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail of the feeder between the hop-per and grinder or crusher.

Fig. 5 is a detail view, artly in diagram, showing the coin'or cheer operated switch controlling the operating motor.

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a perspective v ew showing a portion of the fabric strip in which the -material is pressed.

and said top is preferably under lock and key. I The front wall of the casing is preferably.

provided with a window 14 in frontof the hopper, through which the apples or articles canbe seen, thus serving as an attractive advertising medium, and also enabling the purchaser to note the healthy condition of the apples or other articles contained in the machine.

The articles are discharged from the hopper 12 by a feeder 15, which is a. rotary cylinder as shown, and said feeder has the recesses 16. Each recess is of sufficient size for receiving one large apple, orange or other article, or when the articles are of smaller size, the recess may receive two or more articles. When grapes are used in the machine, they are preferably supplied to the hopper in packages or containers of paper or other suitable material. and cherries and other small fruits, berries, and the like, can also be supplied in packages, whereby the packages are delivered from the hopper by the feeder- The-term articles as used herein covers fruit of "larger size, such as ap les, oranges, grapefruit, and the, like, as we [as packages of grapes, cherries, berries, and the ike, and also vegetables or other natural or artificial products. I

The feeder 15 drops the articles into a grinder or crusher 17 of any suitable kind which grinds, cuts up or crushes the articles into a mass or pulp from which the juice can be expressed more easily than from the solid articles.

A curved wall 18 extends upwardly from the grinder 17 to the discharge opening of the hopper 12, for retaining the articles in the recesses 16 of the feeder while said articles are being moved downwardly from the hopper to the grinder.

In order to prevent the bruising of the articles as one article is being moved from the hopper by the feeder, a'flap 19 is hinged to the hopper at the discharge opening thereof at that side opposite to the wall 18. The flap 19 drops down into theupper recess 16 and an article drops from the hopper through the discharge opening thereof into the upper recess 16, as seen in Fig. 4. Then, when the feeder 15 is'turned (clock-wise as seen in Fig. 4) the article in the upper recess is moved downwardly with the feeder along the wall 18 and when the recess is-brought ever the grinder 17, the article drops into the grinder. As soon as the feeder 15 starts to turn from the position as seen in Fig. 4, the feeder swings the flap 19 upwardly, and said flap will raise the article or articles from the discharge opening of the hopper, to prevent the bruising or cutting of the articles by the feeder, especially when the articles are partially wit in the discharge opening of the hopper in the path of the feeder. The flap 19 being raised will also agitate the articles immediately above the discharge opening of the hopper, so as to prevent clogging, and to assure of an article dropping into the feeder when it is turned to bring a recess under the discharge opening of the hopper.

The numeral 20 designates the actuating shaft of the grinder or crusher 17, which is rotated to operate the grinder for grinding or crushing the articles as they are delivered into the grinder by the feeder.

Theground mass or pulp which'is dis charged from thegrinder 17 is run through a press, for expressing the ulce therefrom.

As shown, a continuous press is used. The.

press may be of the general kindas disclosed in my application Serial No. 7 94,287 filed October 9, 1913, or may be in accordance with the construction disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 695,269,

filed Feb. 26, 1924. In fact, any suitable press can be used in the present machine, and the illustration of the press is more or less diagrammatical.

As shown, the press comprises the upper and lower endless chains 21 and 22 of presser bars or blocks, and the chains are mounted on suitable idler sprocket wheels 23 carried for rotation in the frame 24.

In order to carry the ground mass or pulp into and through the press and to filter the juice, a strip 25 of suitable fabric or porous material is used, said strip being moved under the grinder 17 and into and-through the press. The strip 25 is composed of sections or pieces 26 of suitable length which are'detachably connected. vAs shown in Fi 7, the pieces or sheets 26 are cut apart, an are detachably connected by paper stickers 27 or other suitable connections permitting the sheets to be torn apart, yet enabling the strip 25 to be fed from the roll 28, although the sheets or strip can be fed or supplied in any suitable manner. v

The sheet 25 passes under the grinder so that the ground matter drops onto the strip to pass into the press, and the edge portions of the strip are folded upwardly and inwardly into overlapping relation before entering the press, as apparent by reference to Fig. 3. To facilitate the folding of the strip, a sheet metal former 29 is placed and supported under the grinder, and the. strip moves over said former. The former is so shaped asto assist in the folding of'the strip, and by folding the strip with its edge portions overla ping at the top, the strip will surround t e pulp so as to confine it while being pressed. The pulp is also prevented from passing off with the juice, so

that the press also serves as a filter.

The strip 25 is made of such material which has a fair or sufiicient degree of stiffness to enable the strip to be pushed by feed rollers 30 and 31 over and through the former 29 into the ress. The feed rollers 30 and 31 are carried by the frame 24 at the rear end of the former 29, the upper roller 31 being spring-depressed so as to clam the strip between said rollers, and the strip 25 is guided by suitable guide rollers 32 from the roll 28 to the rollers 30 and'31.

A pan 33 is disposed under the upper run of the chain 22, to catch the juice. and the forward end of the former 29 extends between the rear sprocket wheels in order that any juice in the former is also delivered into the pan Said pan 33 has a discharge spout 34 for delivering the juice.

The machine combines a cup dispenser with the juicedispenser, whereby the juice from the Spout 34 is caught in' a liberated cup 35, and the cup of juice can be readily removed by the purchaser. Flanged paper cups are prefera ly used, and a supply of the cups is provided in a stack in a vertical tubular magazine 36, which preferably extends up into the hopper 12, so that the cups can be dropped down into the magazine 36 when the top 13 of the casing is o ened. That portion of the. magazine 36 withm'the hopper 12 may be of glass or transparent the cups can be seen through i 39 above the shelf 38 to enable the cup to be removed conveniently, and the chute 37 hasan opemng 40 under the spout 34 through which the juice drops into the cup.

Suitable means is provided for releasing the lowermost cup of the stack in the magazine 36, when the machine isoperated. As shown, a pair of escapement members 41 are pivoted between their ends at o posite sides of the. ma azine 36 and have fingers 42 to engage un erthe flange or lip of the lowermost cup, and have fingers 43 at their opposite ends to move over said flange or lip and under the-flange or lip of the second cup. The members 41 are connected bya link 44 so as to operate in unison, and a slide rod 45 is. connected to said members to oscillate themQ'A- spring 46 connected to the rod. 45 normally swings the members 41 to hold the fingers 42 under the flange of the lowermost cup. When the rod 45 is moved in one direction (to the left as seen in Fig. 3), the

escapement members 41 are swung to withdraw the fingers 42 from the lower cup, and

the fingers 43 projected under the fiange'or lip of the second cup to sup ort the stack.

while the lowermost cup is re eased so as to drop down-the chute 37, and when the rod 45 is released so as to .be moved 'in the opposite direction' by the spring 46, the members 41 are restored to normal position and the stack of cupsis then supported by the fingers I 42. Each oscillation of the members 41 will therefore release a cup so that it drops onto the shelf or ledge 38 to receive the juice.

The machine is operated by an electric motor 47, and inasmuch as the shaft 20' of the grinder is rotated at a high' speed it can b be connected directly with the armature of the motor.

"20. The shafts 50' and 51 have worms or screws 54t-hereon at the opposite sides of the press, for actuating the chains 21 and 22, and the adjacent runs of the chains, be-

tween which the material is pressed, have the ends of their bars or blocks engaging the worms 54, in order to forcibly move the chains. If desired, an idl'er,.while the bythe worms.

the upper chain 21 can be lower chain 22 is driven The gearing is such that The lower portion of the A shaft 48 is mounted at the d rear end-of the press, and is connected-to the shaft 20 by -longitudinal shafts 50 when the motor 47 operates, the grinder 17 operates at a high speed while the press operates at a slow speed, relatively. I

A rotary controller 55 is provided to control the operation of the machine, said controller making one revolution for each operation, so that it rotates at a slower speed than the press. Thus, the controller 55 has a worm wheel 56 meshing with a worm 57 on the shaft 50, whereby the controller '55 is rotated in the proper timed relation with the other parts. I

The controller 55 has acam 58 which, when the controller starts to turn, slides the. rod '45 forwardly and then releases said rod,

so that the lowermost cup in the magazine troller 55 has a cam 59 which, when the controller starts to turn, pushes a rod 60 upwardly, and said rod is connected to an oscillatory lever 61 having a pawl 62'engaging aratchet wheel 63. The ratchet wheel 63 is connected by gears 64 to the shaft 65 of the feeder, whereby one step of .movement of the ratchet wheel 63 will turn the feeder 15 one-half of a revolution,.for delivering an article from the hopper into the grinder, the arm 61 and rod 60 returning as soon as the cam 59 passes said ro i The machine is started by the insertion of a coin or check 67 into a chute 66, so that' said coin or check drops on a normally open electric switch 68 to move said switch down against the contacts 69 in the circuit 70 of the motor 47 The switch 68 is weighted so .as to swing open when the COLD or check is removed from the switch, to stop the. motor,and suitable detecting devices can be used, as well known in ing the fraudulent operation of the machine y spurious coins and checks. Thecoin 67 is retained on the switch 68 uring the operation of the machine,-by a detent 71, which, as shown, is hingedly mounted above the switch at one edge of the chute 66, and said detent has an arm' 73' to which a rod 72 is connected. Said rod 72 is arranged to be lifted by the cam 59 when-- the controller 55 completes its revolution,- whereby the upward movement of the rod- 72 will swing-the detent 71 switch .68, to let the coin 67 drop down: As soon as the coin is released, 'the switch 68 swings open, thereby opening the circuit of the motor and stopping the machine.

The feed rollers 30 and 31 are actuated, when the machine is started, for feeding the strip 25 into the press, and the movement of said feedrollers is stopped when the first sheet 26 has passed into the press, in order the art, for preventthat the sheet in'the press will be torn loose fromthe next sheet. As shown, the roller 30 is mounted on a tubular 73 mounted for rotation on a shaft 74 that is driven from the motor. Thus, the shaft 74 is connected by a shifter lever 80 fulcrumed to the frame 24. A spring 81 connected to the lever 80 normally opens the clutch, and a cam 82 carried by the controller 55 operates to swing the lever 80 for closing the clutch. The cam 82 is of such arcuate length that when the controller 55 starts to turn, the cam 82 swingsthe lever 80 to move the clutch member 78 into engagement with the clutch member 79, so that the shaft 73 and roller 30 rotate with the shaft 74, to feed the strip' forwardly over the former 29 and into the press, and when the rear end of the sheet 26 in the press reaches the rear end of the press, the cam 82 releases the lever 80, so that the spring 81 swings the lever 80 to open the clutch, thereby stopping the roller 30. The lever 80 has a brake shoe or arm 83 to stop the roller 30 from turning, when the clutch is opened. The clutch member 79 has the toothed portion 84 which the arm 83 engages when the lever 80 is swung by the spring 81 to remove the clutch member 78 from the clutch member 79. The brake is released when the clutch is closed, inasmuch as the arm 83 is swung away from the teeth 84 when the lever 80 is swung by the cam 82, but the roller.30 is stopped as soon as the clutch is opened, thereby stopping the movement of the sheet 26 which is between the rollers 30 and 31.

When the machine is at rest, the first sheet 26 of the strip 25 extends from between the rollers 30 and 31 under the grinder 17 and over the former '29, with the forward end of the sheet close to the rear end of the chains 21 and 22, as indicated at 85 in Fig. 3. The feeder 15 is in the position, as seen in 'Fig. 4, so that oneof the apples or other articles drops into the upper recess 16. The controller is in the postion "as seen in Fig. 2. j The Y epleration of the machine is as follows: en a proper coin or check is inserted into the chute 66 it drops on the switch 68, and closes said switch, so that the motor'47 is operated. The rinder 17, press and controller 55 are immediately-actuated by the motor, andl'as soon as the controller 55starts to turn, the cams 58 and 59 .will move the rods 45 and 60,- respectively,

so that the escapement members 41 are oscillated to drop a cup, and so that the ratchet wheel 63 is turned one step to turn the feeder. 15 for dropping the article from the feeder into the grinder. The released cup slides down the chute 37 and drops in erect position on the shelf 38 under the spout 34, and the article which is dropped into the grinder 17 is ground or cut up into a crushed mass or pulp. Assoon as the machine is started, the cam 82 swings the lever 80 to close the clutch between'the rollers 3031 and the drive gearing, so that the first sheet 26 is fed forwardly by the rollers. The sheet isthus started forwardly into the press as soon as the article is being ground, and the pulp is dropped onto the sheet as it moves forwardly. The sheet is folded around the pulp as they pass through the former 29 and into the press, and the sheet and pulp therein are pressed between the adjacent runs of the chains 21 and 22, to express the juice from the pulp. The juice is caught in the pan 33 and is discharged through the spout 34 into the cup 35 whlch was released and dropped and on the shelf 38. The sheet 26 is of suflicient length so as to receive all of the pulp of one apple or article from the grinder, between the ends of the sheet, and when the rear end of the sheet reaches the press, the cam 82 leaves the lever 80, so that the spring 81 opens the clutch 7 8-7 9, thereby stopping the roller 30 and the second sheet 26, the forward end of which has been moved into place under the grinder on the former 29 for the next operation. The press continues to operate, however, and the sheet in the press is thereby torn loose or detached e second sheet, to complete, the pressing operation, and the sheet which is running through thelpress is discharged from the forwar end of the press, thereby removing thesheet and pulp from the press. The sheets that are discharged from the press can be caught in a suitable receptacle 86,-

from which they can'be removed at inter-- is completed. When the operation is completed and the""controller. 55 completes its revolution, the cam 59 reciprocates the rod 72, thereby swinging the coin detent 71, to

let the coin 67 drop. The switch 68 will i then immediately swing open, to stop the motor 47. The machine is then ready for the next operation.

. The receptacle 86 can also be used for receiving the used cups, sozas to serveas a waste receptacle for the cups and the sheets containing the pressed pulp, The receptacle 86 preferably has. a top or door 87 which can be opened in any suitable manner for. depositing the cup into the receptacle,

. comprising means for holding ling which will exclude flies and other insects from the receptacle.

As seen in Fig. 1, through the window '14, an ice chamber or receptacle 88 can be provided in the hopper 12, to keep the fruit cool, so as not only to preserve the fruit, but to also provide for cool juice being dispensed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is I 1. A machine of the character described having means for holding a supply of articles,- means for feeding a predetermined amount of the articles from said means, means for crushing and pressing the articles delivered bysaid feeding means, means for delivering the juice expressed by the last named means, and automatic operatin means for said second and third named 7 means so that by one continudus operation a predetermined quantity of the articles is fed from the secondnamed means and crushed and pressed by the thirdnamed means.

2. A machine of the character described a supply of articles, a feeder for delivering a predetermined amount of the articles from said ineans, means for crushing and pressing'the articles delivered by the feeder, means for delivering .the juice expressed by the lastnamed means, and automatic operatin means for said feeder and secondname means so that by one continuous operation a predetermined quantity of the articles is delivered by the feeder and crushed and pressed by the secondnamed means..

3. A 'machine of the'character described comprising means for holding a supply of articles, a feeder for delivering the articles from said means, pressing the articles delivered by the feeder, means for delivering the juice expressed by the secondnamed means, and automatic operating means for the feeder and secondnamed means. 4,. A machine of the character described comprising means for holding a supply of articles, a feeder for delivering the articles from said means, means for crushing and pressing the'articles delivered by said feeder, means for delivering the juice-expressed by the secondnamed means, operating means for said feeder and secondnamed means, means for starting said operating means, and means for stopping said operating means after a predetermined operation of the second named means.

5. A machine of the character described comprising a press, operating means controlsaid press, and a cup dispensing device controlled by said operating means to deliver a cup to receive thejulce expressed by sa'kd press.

A machine comprising a press, operating means for the comprisingmeans for holding a su means for crushing and comprising ofthe character described" press, means controlling said operating means, and a cup dispensing device controlled by the operating means to delivera cup for receiving the juice expressed by said press. A 7. A machine of the character described comprising a press, a motor for operating the press, means for starting the motor, 'a cup dispensing device to be operated when the motor isstarted to deliver a cup for receiving the juice expressed by said press, and means for stopping the motor after a predetermined operation ofzthe press.

8. A machine of. the character described pply of articles, controlled means for feeding the articles from said means, meansfor crush ing and pressing the articles delivered by said feeding means, .a cup dispensing device controlled for delivering a on when an article is delivered by said fee ing means, to receive the juice expressed by said press. 9. A machine of the charactel described comprising means for holding a supply of articles, a feeder for delivering the articles from said means, means for crushin and pressing the articles delivered by the eeder, means for delivering the juice expressed by the lastnamed means, and a cup dispensin device operable in connection with sai feeder for delivering a [cup to receive the juice from the lastnamed means.

O. A machine of the character described comprising 'means for holding a supply of articles, a feeder for delivering the articles from said means, means for pressing the articles delivered by the feeder, means for delivering the juice expressed by the secondnamed means automatic operating means-"for the feeder and secondnamed means, and! a cup dispensing device opercrushing and ice to receive "the juice from the thirdname means. a

11. A machine of the character described means for holding a supply of articles, a feeder for delivering the articles from said means, means for crushing and pressing the articles delivered by the feeder, 7

means for delivering the juice expressed by the secondnamed means, operating means for said feederand second named means, a cup dispensing device controlled to operatewith said feeder for delivering a cup to, receive the juice from said juice deliver-' ing means, means for starting said operating means, and means for stopping said operating means after a pre operation ofthe secondnamed means.

12. A machine of the character'described having means for holding a supply of articles, controlled means for feeding a predetermined amount of the articles holding means, means for crushing the an ticles delivered by said feeding means, and

etermined from said a continuous press for receiving and pressing the pulp delivered bysaid crushing means.

13. A machine of the character described comprising means for holding a supply of articles, a feeder for delivering a predetermined amount of the articles from said.

holding means, a crusher for crushing the articles delivered by the feeder, a continuous press for receiving and pressing the pulp delivered by the crusher, and means for delivering the juice expressed by the press.

14. A machine of the character described comprising meansfor holding a supply of articles, a feeder for delivering a predeter-- mined amount of the articles from said means, a crusher for receiving the articles delivered by the feeder, a continuous press for receiving and pressing the pulp delivered by the crusher, means for delivering the uice expressed by the press, andautomatic operating crusher and press.

15. A machine of the character described comprising means for holding a supply of means for the feeder,

- articles, a feeder for delivering a gpredeterfrom said holding means, a crusher for crushing the articles delivered by said feeder, a continuouspress, and sheet feeding means for feeding sheets under the crusher and into the press for carrying the pulp delivered byfhe crusher into the press.

l 17. 'A machine of the character described comprising means for holding a supply of articles, a feeder for delivering the articles from saidholding means, a crusher for crushing the articles delivered by the feeder, a'continuous press, a strip of detachably connected sheets, and means for feeding the first sheet under the crusher and into the press for carrying the pulp delivered by the crusher into t e press, the lastnamed means being operable to stop the next sheet While the press continuesto operate so that the sheet in the press is torn loose and discharged.

18. A. machine of the character described comprising mea'ns for holding a supply of" articles, a feeder for delivering a predetermined amount of the articles from said holding means, a crusher for crushing the articles delivered by the feeder, a continuous press, a sheet feeder for feeding sheets under the crusher and into the press to carry pulp delivered by the crusher into the press, a motor for operating said feeders, crusher and press, means for starting the motor, and.

means for stopping the motor after the press has operated a predetermined amount.

19. A machine of the character described bomprisingmeans for holding a supply of articles, a feeder for delivering the articles from said means, a crusher for crushing the articles delivered by the feeder, a con- .tinuous press, a strip of detachably connected sheets, means for feeding the first sheet under the crusher and into the pressto receive the pulp from the crusher and carry it into. the press,-a motor operably connected with said feeder, crusher and press, an operative connection between the sheet feeding means and motor 'for operating said means while the first'sheet is, passing into the press and then stopping said means before the next sheet enters the press, so that the sheet in the press is torn loose from the next sheet to continue through the press, means for starting the motor, and means for stopping the motor after the press has operated to discharge the sheet therefrom.

In testimeny whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

ANGELO COLUMBRO. 

